With the gubernatorial general election coming up on November 3rd, FREED Center for Independent Living is proud to announce that on October 15th from 10 a.m.-12p.m. we will be offering one-on-one support with registering to vote. Come to our Grass Valley office located at 435 Sutton Way to receive support in registering, checking your registration status and finding out what accessibility accommodations may be available to you.
Resources
Want to vote but don’t have a fixed address? Want to vote but need to use assistive technology? Want to vote but don’t have an ID? We can help you past these barriers and more. You can also follow along on our Facebook page where we will be answering some of these questions throughout the month. Or check out our website for some key information.
A study from the Stanford Law Review in 2016 found that approximately 30-35% of all voters would need some form of accommodation in the next 25 years. The same study found that while the population of eligible voters with disabilities is growing, the number of individuals with disabilities voting is not, at least not in any proportional way. While it is hard to find good statistics regarding the gap between disabled and non-disabled voters, it is no secret that there is a societal perception that individuals with disabilities can’t, or should not, vote. However, disabled lives are ruled by politics.
How accessible the world is to individuals with disabilities is heavily dependent on policy and the enforcement of those policies. Whether people think individuals with disabilities can engage politically or not, disabled individuals have a long history of political action and advocacy that have made the world more accessible for all. The 504 sit-ins are just one amazing example of how individuals with disabilities can, and have, created change in a political landscape designed to exclude them.
A study by Rutgers conducted after the 2022 elections found: for people with disabilities the odds of encountering difficulties voting in person were 20% compared to 6% for non-disabled voters. While the accessibility of voting may still be a challenge, it improves through voter engagement.
Further, there may be accessibility accommodations individuals are unaware of, such as remote accessible vote by mail (RAVBM) or accessible voting machines which are required to be offered at polling places for in-person voting. We hope this event will allow individuals to become more familiar with their options and support them in making a voting plan.
The November 3rd election, while being a powerful opportunity to make your voice heard, comes with some changes, and some tricky propositions that may be overwhelming. We encourage voters to engage in some research around the following issues.
In November 2025, voters approved prop 50, allowing California to undergo the process of redrawing the maps to re-district. This means you may now be in a different district, or you may be in the same one, but it now also includes other counties you weren’t previously districted with. Prior to the November 3rd election, we encourage you to research which district you now fall under to understand what the redistricting will mean for you.
Propositions
Additionally on the ballot this November 3rd, is a series of propositions regarding a wealth tax. Proposition 40 would mean everyone with a net worth of at least $1 billion would receive a one-time 5% tax on their wealth excluding real estate and investment accounts. If passed, this would be the first ever wealth tax within the United States. Proposition 42 is a reversal of proposition 40 and seeks to ban new taxes on financial assets, private businesses, and other forms of wealth. Proposition 41 would require the state auditor to review any special tax proposal before it goes to voters and assess whether the program that would receive funding could cut spending by 10% annually. Further it would prohibit the state from enforcing any tax that is exempted or excluded from the state spending limit. If prop 40 passes and either 41 or 42 pass, the one with the higher vote tally becomes law. Since 41 and 42 directly oppose 40, it is not possible for 40 and either of the countermeasures to be enacted.
As the November 3rd election rapidly approaches, we hope to engage more voters in our community, especially those with disabilities. Not only do individuals with disabilities deserve to have a voice in something which so heavily impacts them, but a diverse voting pool which comes from many different perspectives and lived experiences creates a more accessible and inclusive world for all. So here at FREED, we sincerely hope you will come in and learn about how to make voting the best experience for you and get registered. This is an exciting election; we hope you’ll come and get engaged. If you have any questions, email Abby@freed.org
About FREED Center for Independent Living:
FREED is a Center for Independent Living serving Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties with a person-centered, peer-led model that supports people with disabilities in living independently and participating fully in their communities. FREED employs approximately 35 staff and operates on an annual budget of roughly $4 million. Learn more at FREED.org